National Science Challenges are the new black

Federated Farmers is
delighted that New Zealand’s primary industries are well
represented in New Zealand’s fiscally upsized National
Science Challenges, announced yesterday by Prime Minister
John Key and the Minister for Science and Innovation, the
Hon Steven Joyce.

“This is significant because we hear
talk of creating a technological future and the National
Science Challenges are about inspiring this to happen,”
says Dr William Rolleston, Federated Farmers
Vice-President.

“Significantly, the Government has
increased its funding by $73.5 million taking the investment
to $133.5 million. In an age of constrained spending this
deserves praise for its foresight.

“When taken in
conjunction with AgResearch’s major investment
announcement earlier this week, the National Science
Challenges are another tool to break down institutional
barriers and foster scientific collaboration and endeavour.

“The most important challenge for our society is to
transform the mind-set of students when it comes to
scientific courses and careers. I count the primary
industries among the sciences too.

“This challenge has
been recognised by the panel. So if school students are
mapping their future for a fulsome and rewarding career,
here it is.

“It is also a space where companies and
organisations need to step up.

“Speaking personally,
this is what my brother John and I did earlier this year in
launching the Woodhouse Scholars Programme for students in
the biosciences. A programme we launched in the presence of
the Governor-General, His Excellency, Lt Gen Rt Hon Sir
Jerry Mateparae.

“Companies involved with biotechnology
and farming, like ours, must inspire excellence and
enterprise among young people. We need to show younger New
Zealanders what is possible to fire their imagination.

“To Federated Farmers, science and farming are the most
creative areas we have because it is about the present and a
boundless future.

“Of the ten National Science
Challenges, the primary industries feature in the following:
High value nutrition –
developing high value foods with validated health benefits.
These unlock value-add and multiply returns manifold over
products as raw commodities.New Zealand’s
biological heritage – protecting and managing our
biodiversity, improving our biosecurity, and enhancing our
resilience to harmful organisms. Vital as a shield against
damage from invasive pests.Our land and
water – Research to enhance primary sector
production and productivity while maintaining and improving
our land and water quality for future generations. This is
a major breakthrough for the primary industries as it is
about resource use efficiency that will greatly aid in
increasing production but off a smaller environmental
footprint. We are proud of the fact that Federated Farmers
was one of the key supporters for this challenge.Life in a changing ocean – understanding
how we can exploit our marine resources within environmental
and biological constraints. We imagine that for our
colleagues in fisheries and aquaculture this will be
significant.The deep south –
understanding the role of the Antarctic and the Southern
Ocean in determining our climate and our future environment.
Given the effect Antarctica and the Southern Ocean has upon
our climate this is significant for the primary industries.
The 2013 drought being an obvious example.Science for technological innovation –
enhancing the capacity of New Zealand to use physical and
engineering sciences for economic growth. This is again
pertinent to the primary industries as it will help us to
maintain our growth in labour productivity. Elements such
as robotics will be the next significant breakthrough with
many applications in the primary industries. Resilience to nature’s challenges –
research into enhancing our resilience to natural disasters.
This is something farmers are all-too aware of given New
Zealand’s location on the Pacific Ring of Fire. The more
tools we have, which enable us to regain production or keep
producing, will be important in ensuring economic and social
stability.

“Given the Primary Industries also boast the
collaborative Primary Growth Partnership as well as the
Sustainable Farming Fund, there is a sense we are finally
lining up our policy ducks to accomplish something
remarkable,” Dr Rolleston concluded.

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